U.S. 101 has been completely decommissioned in San Diego and Orange Counties. Starting at the International Border at San Ysidro, U.S. 101 roughly paralleled Interstate 5 all the way through San Diego County. It began at the southern trolley terminus in the city of San Diego along San Ysidro Boulevard, continued northwest via Beyer Boulevard through the Otay-Nestor community, then entered the city of Chula Vista as Broadway. The old alignment of U.S. 101 was buried by the Mile of Cars in National City, then hooks into Harbor Drive via an "S" curve at 8th Street. Re-entering the city of San Diego, U.S. 101 entered downtown via Harbor Drive, then met U.S. 80 and U.S. 395 at the intersection of Harbor and Market Street. At Pacific Highway (just north of Seaport Village), U.S. 101 followed Pacific Highway toward the airport, passing through a vintage segment of expressway that was originally slated to be part of Interstate 5 but today is a city of San Diego major arterial street, complete with old-style interchanges.
In the 1930s, there was a brief split defined for U.S. 101 in San Diego. U.S. 101E and U.S. 101W split at the Barnett Avenue/Pacific Highway interchange. U.S. 101E followed the present alignment of Old U.S. 101 via Pacific Highway, East Mission Bay Drive, Gilman Drive, and North Torrey Pines Road. U.S. 101W had a more complicated routing, as it followed Barnett Avenue west, Midway Drive north, Sports Arena Drive, Mission Bay Drive, and possibly Ingraham Street into the community of Pacific Beach.
It is unclear if U.S. 101W followed Ingraham Street north to Foothill Drive and then took Turquoise Street west to La Jolla Boulevard, or if the old route turned toward the beach perhaps via Riviera Drive, Grand Avenue, or Garnet Avenue. U.S. 101W may have even entered the Mission Beach community via West Mission Bay Drive and Mission Boulevard, or possibly the old bridge that used to connect Mission Beach with Ocean Beach at the mouth of Mission Bay and the San Diego River. This bridge did not survive for long, and it is no longer in place today.
Continuing north, U.S. 101W definitely stayed west of Mount Soledad, passing through the Bird Rock neighborhood before entering downtown La Jolla via La Jolla Drive and Prospect Place (or possibly Pearl Street). U.S. 101W then followed North Torrey Pines Road to La Jolla Shores Drive, then rejoined U.S. 101E at the current North Torrey Pines Road/La Jolla Shores Drive intersection just west of the University of California at San Diego (UCSD). This split route was gone by the 1940s, and U.S. 101 was routed to stay east of Mount Soledad, Pacific Beach, and Mission Beach. The following map shows the approximate routing of the old U.S. 101E-W split that used to exist in the northern San Diego area.
Leaving the city of San Diego along North Torrey Pines via San Diego County Route S-21 near Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course, U.S. 101 entered the city of Del Mar after passing over Soledad Creek and the San Diego Northern Railroad. Now known as Camino del Mar, U.S. 101 is signed as an historic route for the first time along its northerly journey. Continuing through downtown Del Mar, U.S. 101 enters Solana Beach just west of the Del Mar Racetrack and Fairgrounds, home of the San Diego County Fair (formerly known as the Del Mar Fair).
U.S. 101 now hugs the coast as it passes through the next several towns: Solana Beach, Encinitas (including Cardiff and Leucadia), and Carlsbad. Known as "Coast Highway 101," "Coast Highway," or simply "Highway 101," U.S. 101 is well-signed with brown historic shields as well as some standalone shields that are reminiscent of the original U.S. 101 shields. Each town has its moments of interest, from the outstanding Encinitas restaurants to the antique stores in Leucadia and Solana Beach.
Passing through Carlsbad and entering Oceanside at the mouth of the Buena Vista Lagoon, U.S. 101 finally leaves sight of the coast as it enters the city. U.S. 101 follows what used to be known as Hill Street but is today known as Coast Highway (even though the route is several blocks inland). After passing Vista Way (to the California 78 freeway), Mission Avenue (Business California 76), and San Luis Rey Mission Expressway (California 76), U.S. 101 is forcibly absorbed into Interstate 5 for the first time. The old route continues to run parallel to the freeway, but it is largely inaccessible because of its location within Camp Pendleton Marine Base. U.S. 101 does not gain freedom from Interstate 5 until the Harbor Boulevard exit (former California 72).
Upon entering San Clemente, the first city north of Camp Pendleton and the first city in Orange County, U.S. 101 follows El Camino Real and the Coast Highway through the city via the poorly signed Business Loop I-5. Through the newly developed areas along Interstate 5 north of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, the old alignment of U.S. 101 generally remains within the shadow of Interstate 5. At the Harbor Boulevard exit in Anaheim (very close to Disneyland), old U.S. 101 splits off from Interstate 5, following Harbor Drive (former California 72) north through Fullerton to La Habra, then turns northeast along California 72 (Whittier Boulevard) to enter the county of Los Angeles. Whittier Boulevard is home to a variety of old expressway artifacts and is well worth the trip for vintage U.S. 101.
Much of the original Harbor Drive expressway concrete is still in place along Harbor Drive between Interstate 5 Exit 11A and the San Diego Convention Center (just north of the California 75/San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge overcrossing). This concrete has expansion joints that cause a familiar "bump-bump" noise as cars travel over it. This particular stretch of concrete is located just north of 32nd Street and the southern terminus of California 15. Photo taken 08/08/04.
The towering cranes and facilities of the Naval Shipyards loom on the horizon as Harbor Drive, which carried U.S. 101 until 1964 and was briefly designated as Business Loop I-5 in the late 1960s, heads north toward downtown San Diego. Photo taken 08/08/04.
In some cases, the concrete from the days that Harbor Drive carried much of the through traffic has been poured over with asphalt. Most of this corridor is industrial, especially between 32nd Street and the San Diego Coronado Bay Bridge. The industry is primarily based on the shipyards for the U.S. Navy, but private enterprise also has a significant presence here. Photo taken 08/08/04.
In other areas, the asphalt patches has again given way to the virgin concrete beneath. Note the concrete berm on the median, which has divots. Divots in median concrete berms was a design feature of 1940s and 1950s state route expressways. Photo taken 08/08/04.
Harbor Drive again reverts to original concrete as it plies through the industrial corridor. On the east side of the highway is the trolley tracks, along with the sole north-south commercial rail corridor in San Diego County. Power lines carry electricity from a generating facility in Chula Vista, off the shore of southern San Diego Bay. Photo taken 08/08/04.
The San Diego Trolley uses the railroad lines to carry passengers between San Ysidro and downtown San Diego. The red cars have become synonymous with San Diego's public transportation system. Photo taken 08/08/04.
Northbound U.S. 101/Harbor Drive reaches Sampson Street. The San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge (California 75) dominates the scene ahead. Photo taken 08/08/04.
After passing under the massive San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge, which spans San Diego Bay, northbound travelers may turn right here (on Cesar E. Chavez Parkway) to get onto the bridge. Harbor Drive, meanwhile, continues north along the path of old U.S. 101 toward downtown, which looms in the horizon. Photo taken 08/08/04.
San Diego: Pacific Highway (Northbound)
Leaving downtown San Diego on northbound Pacific Highway, U.S. 101 merges onto the freeway section near Washington Street. Until 2002, these signs were nonreflective signs without button copy, dating to the mid-1960s. They have since been replaced by reflective signs (as shown here). Photo taken 09/23/06.
Northbound Historic U.S. 101 (Pacific Highway) reaches the "Roadside Business" exit (which connects to the Pacific Highway frontage road and Washington Street). This was a black button copy sign until 2002 when it was replaced with this reflective sign. See the next photo for the old sign. Use this exit to a remnant button copy "curve ahead" sign with a California Division of Highways logo. Photo taken 09/23/06.
This is the same off ramp about seven years earlier. The postmile (17.749 miles) is an original marker placed from when Interstate 5 was routed on this stretch of Pacific Highway; it had fallen down the embankment and had to be replaced next to the exit sign. Shortly after we replaced the milepost alongside the highway, someone removed the postmile permanently. In early 2003, the original "Roadside Business" sign was replaced with a reflective green sign. Photo taken 06/99.
Close-up of the old Interstate 5 postmile marker along northbound Historic U.S. 101 (Pacific Highway) at the Washington Street/Roadside Business interchange. Photo taken 06/99.
On the ramp to the Pacific Highway frontage road was this "End One Way" sign at the Roadside Business offramp. The sign has since been removed. Photo taken 06/99.
This is a view of the bridge over Washington Street as seen from the shoulder of the road, just behind the "Roadside Business" sign. Photo taken 06/99.
The next interchange after Washington Street is largely below grade, and it connects Historic U.S. 101 with Witherby Street and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. This date stamp of 1942 is located on the side of the bridge over the Witherby Street subway. Photo taken 09/23/06.
A 1942 date stamp is located at the gore point for the split between Pacific Highway north and Barnett Avenue west. In the distance is the Enterprise Street traffic signal. Photo taken 09/23/06.
This view of southbound U.S. 101/Pacific Highway is afforded from the Barnett Avenue overcrossing. Photos taken 09/23/06.
The Barnett Avenue Overcrossing is signed with a state bridge number as shown here on the overcrossing. Photo taken 09/23/06.
Northbound Pacific Highway meets Enterprise Street in front of SPAWAR at this traffic signal. The signal was added in 2003. An overhead sign advises that Interstate 8 is forthcoming, but the path to Interstate 8 from northbound Pacific Highway is fairly convoluted (follow Taylor Street east and follow the signs). Photo taken 09/23/06.
San Diego: Morena Boulevard (Northbound)
Leaving Old Town, U.S. 101 connects to Morena Boulevard by way of a demolished section of Pacific Highway (due to the construction of the Interstate 5 and Interstate 8 interchange). As a detour, follow Taylor Street east to Morena Boulevard north. Here Morena Boulevard passes under Interstate 8 (former U.S. 80), then prepares to cross the San Diego River. Look for the overhead porcelain enamel overheads that grace the southbound direction of Morena Boulevard. Photo taken 09/23/06.
Northbound Morena Boulevard crosses over the San Diego River on this modern bridge. After this crossing, U.S. 101 joins Morena Boulevard. Photo taken 09/23/06.
After the Linda Vista Road turnoff, northbound Morena Boulevard splits: through traffic should stay left on West Morena Boulevard, while local traffic should trend right to continue on Morena Boulevard. To Interstate 5, use Morena Boulevard (bear right). Photo taken 09/23/06.
San Diego: North Torrey Pines Road (Northbound)
Another extant section of U.S. 101 is located along North Torrey Pines Road north of the University of California at San Diego, adjacent to the Torrey Pines Golf Course. Photo taken 10/29/05.
A small interchange acts as the connection between U.S. 101 (San Diego County Route S-21) and Torrey Pines Golf Course (via Callan Road). Photo taken 10/29/05.
Torrey Pines State Reserve is best known for the rare Torrey Pine tree, which only grows in this unique coastal environment. Not only does the park include hiking and beaches, it also contains an extensive section of the original Torrey Pines Grade, which preceded this section of U.S. 101. Photo taken 10/29/05.
The Pacific Ocean comes into view as U.S. 101 north begins its gradual descent from Torrey Pines Mesa to Los Peñasquitos Lagoon. U.S. 101 retains at least four lanes for the grade down to the lagoon, but it shifts to one lane in each direction once it approaches the city of Del Mar. Photo taken 10/29/05.
The original route through what is now Torrey Pines State Reserve was a single-slab concrete roadway that was constructed in 1915. Due to its many twists and turns, U.S. 101 was rerouted from this early coastal road to this alignment, which carries U.S. 101 over four lanes of pavement from Torrey Pines Mesa north to Los Peñasquitos Lagoon. The expressway was built in the 1930s as a three-lane highway (with a suicide lane). By 1941, U.S. 101 was complete with five lanes, with three southbound lanes and two northbound lanes. Of course, in 1966, Interstate 5 was constructed further inland to bypass this Torrey Pines roadway. Photos taken 10/29/05.
Several Torrey Pines grace U.S. 101 as the expressway continues northwest toward the beach and Pacific Ocean. Photo taken 10/29/05.
The first turn off along northbound since leaving the mesa is the connection to the state reserve and Torrey Pines Beach. Portions of the beach are considered "clothing optional," but those sections of the beach require a bit of hiking to reach on foot. Only the section of the beach (Black's Beach) under the state's jurisdiction is considered clothing optional, but that is a point disputed by many. Strip at your own risk. Photo taken 10/29/05.
The vast Pacific Ocean and its surf break come into view as U.S. 101 approaches the parking area of the state reserve. Photo taken 10/29/05.
Turn left here for the state reserve parking lot. While there is a charge to park in the state's parking lot, there is no charge to park along North Torrey Pines Road where the diagonal slots connect directly to the highway. Photo taken 10/29/05.
Now turned north again, U.S. 101 prepares to narrow to one through lane in each direction. The hill in the distance is part of the state reserve, but it is surrounded by the city of Del Mar on the west and the Torrey Pines community planning area of the city of San Diego on the other sides. Photo taken 10/29/05.
The bridge over Peñasquitos Creek was replaced in 2004. While the old bridge has historical qualities (since it was built in the 1930s), the new bridge is more environmentally friendly with only two piers that are located in the water. This facilities better water flow in and out of the adjacent lagoon east of U.S. 101. Photo taken 10/29/05.
Originally, plans by the city of San Diego called for this bridge to be constructed with four lanes. However, the city of Del Mar did not plan to widen its railroad bridge to a similar width. As a result, the bridge over Peñasquitos Creek has extra wide median barriers that were not originally intended to be there. Photo taken 10/29/05.
Climbing away from the bridge over the creek, U.S. 101/North Torrey Pines Road next approaches the railroad bridge. Photo taken 10/29/05.
These views of northbound U.S. 101/Peñasquitos Creek bridge are taken from the western sidewalk on the bridge over the creek. Photos taken 10/29/05.
San Diego: North Torrey Pines Road (Southbound)
Torrey Pines State Beach spreads out to the west of U.S. 101/North Torrey Pines Road. Photo taken 10/29/05.
Torrey Pines Mesa sits in the distance. Parking areas for the state reserve are located near the base of the mesa. Photo taken 10/29/05.
A pedestrian sidewalk allows for access on the west side of the Peñasquitos Creek bridge only. There is no companion sidewalk on the east side of the bridge. Photo taken 10/29/05.
Roadside parking is allowed on the west side of North Torrey Pines Road. Photo taken 10/29/05.
Southbound U.S. 101/North Torrey Pines Road reaches the entrance to Torrey Pines State Reserve. Photo taken 10/29/05.
On southbound U.S. 101, there are three lanes (the third lane is a climbing lane). Photo taken 10/29/05.
Torrey pines come into view along U.S. 101 as the highway ascends to the top of Torrey Pines Mesa. Photo taken 10/29/05.
This suite of photos follows U.S. 101 south as the highway continues up the Torrey Pines Grade toward the Torrey Pines Golf Course. Look for divots in the concrete median, which tells the age of this stretch of roadway. Photos taken 10/29/05.
This is the first traffic signal along southbound North Torrey Pines Road since leaving the state reserve area. Photo taken 10/29/05.
A final reassurance shield for San Diego County Route S-21 is located prior to the traffic signal for Torrey Pines Science Park. Photo taken 10/29/05.
This offramp connects southbound North Torrey Pines Road with the Torrey Pines Golf Course, one of the most famous municipal golf courses in the country. Photo taken 10/29/05.
The next traffic signal serves the Torrey Pines Hilton and eastbound Science Park Road. Photo taken 10/29/05.
At this intersection, the old alignment U.S. 101 disappears, since the old road was plowed under when the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) was constructed in the 1960s. Genesee Avenue carries traffic back to Interstate 5, but it was never part of U.S. 101. To the southwest, North Torrey Pines Road continues, but it no longer follows Old U.S. 101. The next extant section of U.S. 101 is on Gilman Drive south of La Jolla Village Drive and UCSD. Photo taken 10/29/05.
San Diego: Pacific Highway (Southbound)
U.S. 101 used to follow Pacific Highway from Old Town south into downtown San Diego. A portion of this alignment remains a city-maintained section of freeway. Here, southbound Historic U.S. 101 meets Barnett Avenue (former Legislative Route 12/Camino del Cabrillo, briefly U.S. 80 in the early 1940s), which travels west to Point Loma and Cabrillo National Monument. The freeway drops into a subway built in 1942; this was one of the first freeway structures to be built in San Diego. Photo taken 09/23/06.
White wooden guardrail that dates back to the initial construction of the U.S. 101/Pacific Highway interchange with Barnett Avenue lines the southbound lanes as they travel below grade. The bridge carries traffic from northbound U.S. 101 onto westbound Barnett Avenue. The frontage road on the right provides the connection from southbound U.S. 101 to westbound Barnett Avenue. Photo taken 09/23/06.
After traffic from eastbound Barnett Avenue merges onto southbound Pacific Highway (U.S. 101), the next exit is the ramp to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, which is sandwiched between Pacific Highway on the east and San Diego International Airport (Lindbergh Field) on the west. Photo taken 09/23/06.
Crossing over Witherby Street/Marine Corps Recruit Depot, a small ventilation house for the concrete subway is located next to a prominent date stamp of 1942. Photo taken 09/23/06.
Southbound Pacific Highway (Historic U.S. 101) reaches the loop ramp to Witherby Street eastbound. Use Witherby Street east to the Pacific Highway Frontage Road, which allows access to businesses on the east side of the freeway. From here, Pacific Highway carries three southbound lanes toward downtown San Diego. Much of the traffic here is related to the military base as well as commuter traffic to and from Point Loma. Photo taken 09/23/06.
Southbound Pacific Highway at Junction Southbound Interstate 5. The old alignment of U.S. 101 exits here, onto Pacific Highway. The connector ramp leads from Pacific Highway onto Interstate 5. These nonreflective signs (which surprisingly did not have any button copy) were replaced with reflective signs in early 2003. Photo taken 06/99.
San Ysidro (Scenes Pertaining to U.S. 101)
Southern terminus of Historic U.S. 101 at Camino de la Plaza at the Mexican Port of Entry in San Ysidro, a community of the city of San Diego. Photo taken 06/99.
Southbound Historic U.S. 101 along San Ysidro Boulevard approaching Camino de la Plaza. Photo taken 06/99.
Southbound Historic U.S. 101 along San Ysidro Boulevard after Camino de la Plaza approaching the southern terminus of the trolley station. At one time, this marked the port of entry into Tijuana, but the border crossing has since been realigned to match the flow of Interstate 5. This marks the southern terminus of Historic U.S. 101. Photo taken 06/99.
San Diego: Pacific Highway (Scenes Pertaining to U.S. 101)
Pacific Highway overhead signage. This sign was replaced with a reflective sign in early 2003. Photo taken 06/99.
Old white on black "Do Not Enter" signage located on the offramp from southbound Pacific Highway to Washington Street. Photo taken 06/99.
Old directional signage for Pacific Highway along eastbound Washington Street. Photo taken 06/99.
This set of photos shows areas around the Pacific Highway and Witherby Street interchange near the Marine Corps Recruit Depot looking northwest. Photos taken 09/23/06.
These views are from Pacific Highway looking east on Witherby Street toward the railroad overpass and Interstate 5. Photos taken 09/23/06.
Now looking south, this view shows the northbound lanes at the Witherby Street subway. Photo taken 09/23/06.
This intersection is located immediately east of the Pacific Highway and Witherby Street interchange. The lack of signage here makes navigation a bit more difficult than it would otherwise be through this below grade maze. This image is taken looking southeast from Pacific Highway. Photo taken 09/23/06.
This suite of pictures shows the view of the southbound lanes of U.S. 101/Pacific Highway at the Barnett Avenue interchange looking north toward the subway. The adjacent sidewalk offers date stamps of 1942. Photos taken 09/23/06.
This view shows eastbound Barnett Avenue as it approaches Historic U.S. 101 (Pacific Highway) and merges onto the southbound lanes immediately after the subway. The overhead sign advises "subway flooded" when appropriate. Photo taken 09/23/06.
Still looking east on Barnett Avenue toward Pacific Highway, this view shows the white wooden railing alongside the sidewalk. Photo taken 09/23/06.
This is a second view of eastbound Barnett Avenue looking toward the Pacific Highway interchange, this time from the median. Photo taken 09/23/06.
Los Peñasquitos Lagoon Bridge (Scenes Pertaining to U.S. 101)
Construction of this new bridge was completed by the city of San Diego in 2005. The bridge that preceded this bridge dated back to the original construction of U.S. 101 across the lagoon. While that bridge was a beautiful highway relic, it was not the best design for the ebb and flow of the lagoon. The new bridge takes this into account and has fewer supports, making it more environmentally sensitive than its predecessor. Photo taken 10/29/05.
The unique arch shape of the new Peñasquitos Creek Bridge makes it stand out from its peers. Only two sets of piers carry the weight of the highway over the lagoon. Photo taken 10/29/05.
This suite of pictures show Peñasquitos Creek passing under the new bridge that carries North Torrey Pines Road over the lagoon inlet. Photos taken 10/29/05.
Looking north, the Torrey Pines State Beach continues north along the Pacific Ocean coast line. Photo taken 10/29/05.
